Feed accelerator system including feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus

Abstract

A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within a rotating bowl, the conveyor hub including at least one passageway connecting an inside surface of the conveyor hub to an outside surface of the conveyor hub for a feed slurry exiting the conveyor hub. The passageway may be associated with a variety of feed slurry accelerator enhancements such as a baffle extending into a slurry pool formed on the inside of the conveyor hub, a divider, a U-shaped channel, an extension tube, and/or a flow directing and overspeeding member. These accelerator enhancements may be combined within the passageway or incorporated into a feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus removably secured to the passageway. The passageway and/or the nozzle apparatus may include a cross-sectional area having a longer axis approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. Any of these feed slurry accelerator enhancements may include a wear resistant material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising a bowl rotatable about an axis,   a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,   at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and   at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel having a substantially planar base and two side walls such that the U-shaped channel is open in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub, and extending outwardly from the outside surface of the conveyor hub.   
     
     
       2. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus has an outermost radius moving at a fixed circumferential speed for a given rate of rotation of the conveyor hub and includes a flow directing and overspeeding member so as to direct the feed slurry exiting the nozzle apparatus in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub at a circumferential speed greater than the circumferential speed of the accelerating nozzle apparatus at its outermost radius. 
     
     
       3. The feed accelerator system of claim 2 wherein the flow deflecting and overspeeding member is removable. 
     
     
       4. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a baffle which extends radially inward into a slurry pool formed on the inside surface of the conveyor or hub. 
     
     
       5. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped channel is removable. 
     
     
       6. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       7. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       8. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 further comprising a slurry separation pool located in a zone formed between the conveyor hub and the bowl, the pool having a pool surface, wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus extends from the outside surface of the conveyor hub proximately to the surface of the slurry separation pool. 
     
     
       9. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus extends from the outside surface of the conveyor hub into a slurry separation pool located in a zone formed between the conveyor hub and the bowl. 
     
     
       10. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus is removably secured to the passageway by a fastener assembly. 
     
     
       11. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway includes at least one wear resistant insert. 
     
     
       12. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus includes at least one wear resistant insert. 
     
     
       13. The feed accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the passageway is generally rectangular shaped, and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       14. The feed slurry accelerator system of claim 1 wherein the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus is generally rectangular shaped, and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       15. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising a bowl rotatable about an axis,   a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,   at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and   at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally oval shaped channel having a base that extends straight in a generally radial direction from the axis of rotation.   
     
     
       16. The feed accelerator system of claim 15 wherein the passageway is generally oval-shaped and includes a cross-sectional area having a longer maximum dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a maximum dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       17. The feed accelerator system of claim 15 wherein the feed accelerating nozzle apparatus includes a cross-sectional area having a longer maximum dimension approximately parallel to the conveyor hub axis of rotation than a maximum dimension approximately perpendicular to the conveyor hub axis of rotation. 
     
     
       18. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising a bowl rotatable about an axis,   a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl for rotation in a selected direction, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,   at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and   at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway and extending outwardly from the outside surface of the conveyor hub, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel having a flow directing and overspeeding member and an outermost radius moving at a fixed circumferential speed for a given rate of rotation of the conveyor hub, wherein the feed slurry exiting the nozzle apparatus is directed in the direction of rotation of the conveyor hub at a circumferential speed greater than the circumferential speed of the accelerating nozzle apparatus at its outermost radius.   
     
     
       19. The feed accelerator system of claim 18 wherein the flow directing and overspeeding member is removable. 
     
     
       20. The feed accelerator system of claim 18 wherein the U-shaped channel is removable. 
     
     
       21. A feed accelerator system for use in a centrifuge, the system comprising a bowl rotatable about an axis,   a conveyor hub rotatably mounted substantially concentrically within the rotating bowl for rotation in a selected direction, the conveyor hub having an inside surface and an outside surface,   at least one feed slurry passageway between the inside surface of the conveyor hub and the outside surface of the conveyor hub, and   at least one feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus associated with the passageway, the feed slurry accelerating nozzle apparatus including a generally U-shaped channel extending outwardly from the conveyor hub and a baffle which extends radially inward into a slurry pool formed on the inside surface of the conveyor hub.